In 1970 the United States abandoned the gold standard that backed our currency, the dollar.A number of reasons were given, but the main one was foreign governments, some hostile to the US, were buying up gold and sooner or later the US government thought it would be all gone as there is only a finite amount of gold on the planet. The emergence of the global marketplace and the desire for an ever-expanding economy were big reasons as well. Before that, there was a certain amount of Gold in the Federal reserve banks or Fort Knox or in one of the central bank vaults that backed up EVERY dollar circulating in America and the world.​When that was done, the value of the dollar over time goes down to where it has less and less value. As more money is printed and circulated to cover the increase in population, the value of the dollar drops. According to the US inflation calculator something worth $20 in 1970 is worth $120 today in 2013. That is 500% inflation or ⅙ the value it had in 1970.

In a similar way, the Christian used to be a valuable part of the social fabric in each and every community in our nation. In 1960, the leaders in the church had to approve and sign off on the content of movies. Can you imagine that today? Even as recently as just 15 years ago, there were certain moral standards and even speech that was simply not tolerated due to the salt and the light the church was in our society.

Today the moral impact of the Christian in our culture has been so devalued it is almost insignificant. In an attempt to be relevant to the culture, the church became the culture.Matthew 5:13-16 says salt that doesn’t do it’s job is worthless and if our light is hidden it is of no value. I personally believe history will prove it was the introduction of “seeker sensitive” churches where the church, in a fear of being weird and desire to be relevant, became irrelevant to the culture.

In a culture that is devaluing life through unfettered abortion so people can flush away the consequences of their actions, in a culture that is devaluing the pillar institution of marriage preserving the nuclear family, in a society devaluing and degrading sexuality and in a society devaluing the importance of doing business honestly the church has failed to speak out and stand up for truth. The church should hold up the truth as the foundation for society.

Even right now the church is wavering on standing up for the truth of God’s Word in the support of the institution of marriage and the rejection of homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. If this is not done, this society as we know it will soon collapse. This is not a prophecy, but true of every society before us that tolerated perversion and licentiousness. They all came to an abrupt end.

1 Timothy 15:3 “…if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

If the church won’t stand up for the truth, who will?The church is to be salt and light to this world. This aspect of light is intriguing, if we realize that by saying and doing nothing, we participate in keeping the status quo of darkness and ignorance. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”. So we are to reflect His light that shines in us in every place we go. The prophetic ministry must be taken out of the church box and brought out into the open in the marketplace. We must call out truth!

The church must also visibly demonstrate the Kingdom by confronting darkness with the light of the gospel. While social work such as feeding the hungry, clothing the needy and helping the unfortunate in practical ways is essential, there is a much greater need right now for the church to reveal God’s glory through miraculous demonstrations of His power and love. Signs and wonders, miracles and demonstrations of God’s power are desperately needed to defeat the onslaught of darkness our culture is accepting and endorsing more and more each day.

Categories

About

There are 168 hours in every week. The 166 Factor is the answer to the question: "Who are you the OTHER 166 hours a week when you are NOT in church?" Join the community here as we will be discussing this and other topics related to Reformation in the Church, The End of Church (As We Know It) & The 166 Lifestyle.